Hi yall, here we go. Traci's first post about her RXocho.. I use to think that I was a pretty good wrench, until I inherited this bucket. She is evil, plain and simple. Sitting there in the garage smirkin at me again, stripping me of what little confidence I have left. Sometimes at night, and im outside all cuddled up with my black footed ferret ,sky watching, sometimes I can hear her taunting me..whispering.."you cant fix me, stop trying". Over and over..its maddening.. Ok here is the skinny. I inherited a 2004 rx8 (rxocho) with the 1.3L renesis high power 13B.Was supposed to be a fresh motor install, (right). Maybe I should get right to the issue...
when I got the car it would not idle after warm up. she would just flat fall on her face, but start right back up again until the next stop light. I suspected vac leak, dont remember what codes I was getting, been so long, but whatever it was led me to a 02 sensor. This is how i found out that the wiring harness wasn't original, it had been spliced in , apparently when the motor swap. Kept fighting the code, ended up being they had signal and ground wires crossed.That took care of that code but still wouldnt idle.After several months of scratching my noggin and experimenting, I came to the conclusion that my idle issue was being caused by a faulty fuel pump thingee, umm resistor,,thats the word. Bypassed the resistor and idle fuixed. Yayy me right? pfft I wish...this is where it gets good, I am now getting a p0038, indicating downstream sensor voltage output high. No other codes, car runs ok minus the cel in my face. So, follow me on this plz, and Im wrong PLEASE correct me, its how I learn. The downstream sensor does nothing in terms of vehicle performance, it simply monitors the system. Kinda like a auditor. It sits there and sniffs the exhaust stream, and the more fuel it detects (rich), it converts that into a signal, and outputs this signal as dc volts to the pcm. How am I doin? Not bad for a chic huh? neways, the code p0038 tells us that the output is higher than expected, I think, and because the numbers were so high when I crawled under and took a reading while car was running and warm, I concluded (prolly prematurely) that my system was running rich. So because of the belief that the sensor doesnt effect performance , I experimented.by leaving the 02 nsensor plugged in, but not in the stream. Just wired up and out of the way, plugged the bung,,hahah plugged the bung hole.., reasoning was, no more rich condition translates to no more p0038. Sounded so good on paper, cuz now the rabbit hole is growing again. As soon as I started driving the code came back. WTF? how can I get a fuel rich 02 code, when the sensor itself is breathing all the fresh air it wants?? Moral to the story is...IM STUMPED boys and girls Somebody pweeze take the reigns cuz I am honestly out of ideas and patience.
2004 rx8
no mods
manual trans
13b high power
p0038 heater circuit high
what ive tried, both new sensors, air intake sensor, maf sensor, checked vac leaks check plenium for leaks check exhaust for leaks.

 

You own a Ferret as a pet? Eewwwe! LOL.....just kidding!

 

I owned one for several year his name was Hobbs. Sinks naturally... lol But a fun pet and very intelligent for problem solving unlike many members on this forum.. LOL

 

I owned one for several year his name was Hobbs. Sinks naturally... lol But a fun pet and very intelligent for problem solving unlike many members on this forum.. LOL Not saying this OP but a few others...